Government Plans to Combine all Prisons Into One

Homeland Security and Technology Minister, Captain (retd) Ali Ihusaan has said that all the existing prisons in Maldives will be merged into one main prison.

Minister Ihusaan was speaking on state media PSM's 'Raajje Miadhu’ program.

As such, the minister said, research is now underway to implement it. The work is being done to prepare a plan for the cost of building the jail and how the work will be carried out. This is the vision of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, according to Minister Ihusaan.

The main problem in all the prisons currently operating in Maldives is the lack of space, he said. There are prisons in Hulhumalé, Dhoonidhoo, Hinmafushi and Maafushi.

In addition, the minister noted that the cost of running separate prisons is high. The minister said the cost of a prisoner in Maldives’ jails is between 21,0000 and 30,000 MVR. By consolidating all of the prisons into one main prison would allow for a reduction in the overall cost of the overall prison system.

Although the prisons were being consolidated, the type of crime committed by the prisoner would determine the systems for isolation, he said. Therefore, the best way to move forward is through combining the prisons and providing full rehabilitation services with the intention of preventing prisoners from becoming repeat offenders upon release.